All About Bellydance

All About Bellydance Say hello to your hips with Bloomington instructor Donna Carlton.

Donna Carlton is a Bloomington-based instructor and performer who fell in love with bellydance music as a newbie student. She credits Middle Eastern dance, as a practice, with providing a way to lose oneself in the music and the moment, and to flow without overthinking. Donna authored a book (Looking for Little Egypt, published 1995) about the history and perception of Middle Eastern dance in the

United States. For many years, she published a guide to educational dance videos for members of the dance community and sponsored workshops and shows with notable dance educators. She served her dance community with involvement in the Indiana State Association of Middle Eastern Teachers & Dancers as an officer for multiple terms. Thousands of students took her Middle Eastern dance and yoga classes in the years that she taught at the IU School of Public Health-Kinesiology Department. She has been a regular volunteer at Lotus Blossoms Family Bazaar since it started in 1997, engaging with hundreds of elementary schoolers. She has performed at countless venues professionally in Central and Southern Indiana and performed with her group at the Fourth Street Festival of Arts & Crafts for 25 years. Currently, Donna teaches dance classes in the community and performs on oud, guitar, and vocals with Indy Raqs band at dance and cultural events.

Don’t miss it!
09/04/2026

Don’t miss it!

Intro Level is meeting Thursdays at 7pm. Drop in for only $15!
07/02/2026

Intro Level is meeting Thursdays at 7pm. Drop in for only $15!

Dance classes are a great way to meet new people and get into a flow state when dancing together. Here is a fantastical ...
06/26/2026

Dance classes are a great way to meet new people and get into a flow state when dancing together.

Here is a fantastical Hollywood version. This movie is available on YouTube.

CLASSIC CLIPSScene:"Medea Goes Another Way"Movie Title:Jason ...

06/11/2026

So here we go! New session starts tonight, five classes but no class meeting next week. Shimmy forth.

Ready to start? Intro Class meets tonight 7:00pm at Pillar Arts Alliance Center inside College Mall. Photo courtesy Dere...
06/11/2026

Ready to start? Intro Class meets tonight 7:00pm at Pillar Arts Alliance Center inside College Mall.

Photo courtesy Derek Johnson.

06/05/2026

Have a great weekend, dancers!

Connect with artists in our community through a Pillar Arts membership!
05/14/2026

Connect with artists in our community through a Pillar Arts membership!

Looking to connect with other creatives and grow your presence in the local arts community?

A Pillar Arts membership gives artists opportunities to collaborate, network, and share ideas through community events and creative partnerships. 💃

Members also receive discounted access to the performance space at Pillar Arts Alliance Center for performances, workshops, gatherings, and more.

Join us in building a stronger, more connected arts community in South Central Indiana! Register for membership at pillararts.org/become-a-member 💫

Thank you for sharing this, Shahrzad!
04/22/2026

Thank you for sharing this, Shahrzad!

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